Michael Mazel of Highland Township had faced 12 years but instead was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison on child pornography charges after pleading guilty and fleeing to Arizona. Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers

Before he was scheduled for sentencing, Mazel fled the state, but was later captured during a high-risk vehicle stop in Casa Grande, Ariz., trying to cross the border into Mexico. Upon the arrest, U.S. Marshals found that Mazel had survival gear, camping equipment, two loaded firearms and laptop computer and hard drives that contained child pornography. He has been separately indicted on those charges, officials said. He had been facing a 12-year prison sentence.

U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said that evidence discovered revealed that the Mazel used a peer-to-peer file sharing program to download images and videos of children being forced to engage in sex acts with adults. Via an email acocunt, he had also asked several people who appeared to be pre-teen girls to have sex with him and sent them child pornography.

In total, more than 400 photos and videos — some portraying sadistic or masochistic acts — were in Mazel’s possession, Homeland Security investigators said.

He was released on a $10,000 bond after pleading guilty and was set to be sentenced in federal court on Jan. 22, but failed to show up for his sentencing after cutting off his ankle monitor and fleeing from his home.

“Mazel’s capture and ultimate sentencing should send a strong message to child predators that HSI and our law enforcement partners will hunt them down and hold them accountable before the law,” he added.

Staff writer Paul Kampe contributed to this report.

About the Author

John Turk covers the police beat and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners for The Oakland Press. He is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University. Reach the author at john.turk@oakpress.com
or follow John on Twitter: @jrturk.